26 April 2012
To love, you have to save a life. To let go, you have to close your eyes, and spread your arms, wide open.
... With muffled hearing, he slowly opened his eyes, searching for those golden brown locks that had always caught his attention.
"Jamie?" he whispered as he inhaled deeply.
"Where's Jamie?"
"Mike, this is mom. Jamie's here, she's safe. But you have to get better first."
"What happened? I...barely..remember."
"You saw Jamie down the street, and then this truck turned sharply 'round the curb. It happened so fast. But you spared Jamie in time."
"That's good, that's..good." Mike stuttered as a searing pain swept over him.
Before going, he managed to kiss his mom, and contemplated whether saying goodbye was a good thing. But he decided to hold back. Just for a bit longer.
"Why are you crying, Mike?"
He tried to hide the pain under the covers and tilted his head laterally.
"I'm not..crying...mom. I'm...just happy. I've saved her..just as I promised...I'll make a good..angel, right?"
"You're so brave Mike. Mom and dad are so proud of you. Don't talk anymore, save that for later."
But he so badly wanted to. He wanted to say all the things he needed to.
"Tell Jamie, I love..her. I don't know...if"
"what is it Mike?" his mother said in a tone filled with anguish.
"I'm going to be beside her anymore."
He closed his eyes, lowered his shoulders, and pursed his lips.
"Mike, we're not going to leave you. We'll be right here. Don't sleep. You hear mom? Don't sleep yet." she said, as she held his hands tightly.
"I'm just a bit..tired. I..feel..light."
"Just keep your head low. You'll be alright."
"I will..be." he finally said for the last time before permanently drifting away.
Jamie entered and finally saw him leave. She swallowed hard as Mike's father began to embrace her, in a crippling kind of way.
"I love you Mike, my angel. You can sleep now." she said under her breath as his body began to sink under the covers.
Soon, his pulse came to a stop, and his hands faltered from his mom's clasps. In that moment, the Mike everyone knew became lifeless, but his love was kept alive by the burning impression he had left in everyone's heart.
To Love Is To Let Go • Opuss № I